Every spring, the eastern Chinese city of Heze in Shandong province transforms into a sprawling sea of blush, crimson and ivory blooms as its world-famous peony enters full peak bloom. For 2026, the city’s annual signature celebration, the Heze Peony Festival, opened its gates to visitors from across China and around the world, inviting guests to dive into the layered charm of a flower that has shaped the region’s identity for centuries. Among those exploring the festival this year was Samar Kerkeni, an international expert with China Daily Website, who set out on an immersive journey to experience how peony culture weaves through every corner of Heze life.
Kerkeni’s first stop was the iconic Caozhou Peony Garden, the core venue of the festival and one of the largest peony cultivation sites in the country. After joining the opening festivities and wandering the endless rows of blooming plants, she ventured beyond the garden to explore the deep cultural roots the flower has planted in Heze. Her cultural tour included visits to a local calligraphy and painting institute, where artists showcased works centered on peony motifs, and a traditional dough figurine workshop, where master artisans walked her through the process of handcrafting peony-shaped dough art, a centuries-old folk craft unique to the region. These demonstrations highlighted how the peony is far more than just a natural attraction for Heze: it is a core inspiration for the city’s living intangible cultural heritage.
Continuing her journey, Kerkeni traveled to Caoxian County, a district of Heze that has grown into a national hub for traditional Chinese hanfu manufacturing. There, she had the opportunity to try on a custom peony-patterned hanfu, an experience that illustrated the flower’s expanding influence on modern cultural design and China’s fast-growing creative cultural industries. What began as a symbol of traditional aesthetics has evolved into a driving force for local economic development, blending cultural heritage with contemporary consumer demand to create new jobs and market opportunities for the region.
By the end of her visit, it was clear that Heze’s relationship with the peony extends far beyond the annual bloom. What started as a beloved native flower has grown into a unifying thread that connects the area’s natural beauty, centuries-old cultural traditions, and a thriving modern creative economy, drawing visitors and cultural exchange from across the globe.